Republicans are now claiming President Obama is for big spending cuts that gut government and the things we do to make our lives better, and that Republicans are not for gutting spending. This one is almost funny, if it weren’t for the damage that will be done to people if the Republicans cause the “sequester” [...]

The latest proposal to cut Social Security coming from our out-of-touch DC elites literally says that because old people cut back to cat food when people food is expensive, then we shouldn’t let Social Security rise enough to keep covering people food. It literally says that. There is a Social Security proposal circulating among the [...]

This interview was based on a piece we did entitled “Four Republican Medicare Secrets … and a $600 Billion Funeral.”  Video is below:

As Washington approaches a “fiscal cliff” of its own making, our elected officials appear to be forgetting some important things. President Obama seems to have forgotten the mandate he won in November, not a mandate just to increase taxes on the wealthy (something nearly 50% of Republicans now even support), but a mandate not to [...]

Politico shares its insights on what the right “deal” should look like: …tax reform that goes way beyond individuals and rates; much deeper Social Security and Medicare changes than currently envisioned; quick movement on trade agreements, including a proposed one with Europe; an energy policy that exploits the oil and gas boom; and allowing foreign-born [...]

Here’s the thing, once again: all of this is unnecessary. The deficit caused by Bush’s tax cuts, wars and recession will be largely mitigated by reinstatement of the upper income taxes, drawdown of the wars, growth(duh!) and, most importantly, controlling health care costs, the best method for which would have been expanding Medicare to cover everyone. We don’t need to make this “clever” accounting change that will result in elderly and disabled people suffering. We can get serious about a rational national security policy, controlling health care costs, and espurring conomic growth and stop listening to the disaster capitalists who are intent upon using this window of opportunity to cut the programs they hate, whether the economy is good or bad. (Hell, we could even raise the top income tax rate above the Clinton levels, at least for those making a million dollars a year. These people have been making out like bandits and surely won’t miss the money.)

Medicare works. It delivers good coverage, and it does so more cost-effectively. It should be strengthened, not weakened. It shouldn’t be “compromised” or sacrificed on the altar of lower expenditures, especially for an alternative that will actually cost more.

The Republicans are demanding $600 billion in Medicare cuts over the next ten years. Their only concrete proposal is to deny Medicare coverage to Americans during what is now their first two years of eligibility, at ages 65 and 66. But their official offer isn’t even that specific. It just throws out that figure: $600 billion. But you can’t get there from here.

Cuts in Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security hurt PEOPLE. Raising tax rates on the wealthy is just money. They do not equate, do not trade them. Please join Monday’s big, national event and add your voice. The “Lame Duck” — unelected — Congress is deep in negotiations over the ‘fiscal cliff.’ Republicans are holding us [...]

It’s almost impossible to believe: With the private-sector economy struggling and politicians worried about government spending, the biggest proposal on the table is raising the Medicare age to 67. That would take far more out of household budgets than it would save in government spending – and the savings would be short-lived. What’s more, it [...]